Exactly. And I didn't much care for "Lucy in the Sky" until my daughter (of the same name) was born. Nor did I care much for "My Love", until I fell head over heels, and then suddenly that song meant everything (thus proving correct the Macca-ism, "I only know that when I'm in it, Love isn't silly at all.").

Actually I have a question. How do you listen to The Beatles?

: I used to use my ears.

I made mp3s from the box set and I have them in a folder, and when I open it, I play them in sequence. If the last time I was in Abbey Road, I continue there. It's weird listening the Beatles in random order.

Tim Riley makes a pretty good case in Tell Me Why for listening to each individual Beatles song in its full context (i.e., in its natural place on an album) in order to get the most out of that song. I guess I always assumed that their songs just got thrown onto an album in whatever order the producers decided, but Riley might be right in suggesting that the order of the songs was deliberate, and the U.S. releases (which routinely re-arranged the song order) go a long way towards proving Riley's theory (by way of contrast, that is).

All of that to say, I agree with you: listening to The Beatles in "random order" is an exceedingly strange experience. Kind of like reading chapters in a novel out of order.

Not a bit like Cagney.

3 May 201010.02pm

Zig

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PeterWeatherby said:

Tim Riley makes a pretty good case in Tell Me Why for listening to each individual Beatles song in its full context (i.e., in its natural place on an album) in order to get the most out of that song.

I'll take that a step further...I enjoy listening to the LP's (OK, CD's) that were featured on the Anthology DVD's I just watched. For example, after watching the DVD that has Anthology 1 & 2, I'll throw on the first 2 CD's (PPM and WTB).

It puts you in the proper frame of mind for what they were experiencing during that particular time frame. When watching/listening to the Dylan influenced music (most notably HELP!), it also helps to have your favorite "cup of tea" at the ready.

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5 May 20102.12am

Sun Queen

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I, personally, listen to the songs out of order. -gasp!-

This is only because I had to take different measures to get the songs (muhahaha, thank you, internet) so I never got them in order, or all at the same time for that matter. Just as of late, I've been making playlists of the songs in order. What a difference! I appreciate Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper especially now- they sound wonderful!

Tim Riley makes a pretty good case in Tell Me Why for listening to each individual Beatles song in its full context (i.e., in its natural place on an album) in order to get the most out of that song.

I'll take that a step further...I enjoy listening to the LP's (OK, CD's) that were featured on the Anthology DVD's I just watched. For example, after watching the DVD that has Anthology 1 & 2, I'll throw on the first 2 CD's (PPM and WTB).

It puts you in the proper frame of mind for what they were experiencing during that particular time frame. When watching/listening to the Dylan influenced music (most notably HELP!), it also helps to have your favorite "cup of tea" at the ready.

Ohhh that's fantastic!! I might try that in my Summer vacations!!

BTW thanks to everybody for your answer. I think Peter said it well, it's like reading a book.

I don't really like the album version of Sexy Sadie because it just sounds too fast. The anthology version is really good because it actually shows John's anger at the Maharishi, plus it's just a really bluesy Come Together type song. There are some songs on earlier albums that I don't really bother with like A Taste Of Honey, Tell Me Why, I Don't Want To Spoil The Party, and stuff like that. From Help on the only songs I don't listen to very often would be You're Gonna Lose That Girl, I don't know why but I've never really cared for Lady Madonna, The Long and Boring Road, I Will (too cheesy), Two of Us, and One After 909. Obviously Revolution 9 isn't my favorite but it is interesting (at least when using headphones) and the 'Onion Soup' part always makes me laugh.

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8 May 20107.42pm

GniknuS

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Actually Savoy Truffle is my all time least favorite Beatle song, I just can't find anything about it that I like.

Yeah I re-listened to it and I like it, it's just whenever I think about it, I just think 'it's about chocolate' and I think less of it for whatever reason.

I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine

9 May 20105.24am

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Sometimes it's just hearing that one thing in the song that can change your opinion of it. For example, Maxwell's Silver Hammer. The part were Maxwell's writting lines - I must not be so uh oh oh? You can hear a laugh in Paul's voice, and for me, knowing that he knows that it's a silly song changes it for me. It's still not my favorite, but I won't hit skip every time it comes on.

I read once (perhaps on Wikipedia, so it might not be true) that McCartney's chuckle was because, when he sang "so he waits behind", John Lennon bent over and waggled his behind in the air.

I read that on Wikipedia too, although I read that John actually mooned him. It's hearing mistakes like that that remind me they're human, not just gods.

9 May 20105.23pm

skye

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Even better! Either way, there's something I enjoy about it now.

Ad hoc, ad loc, and quid pro quo! So little time! So much to know!

8 June 20108.48pm

TheOneBeatle

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I Love all the beatles song, unreleased, demos, jams, etcetera.

But the less good song of The Beatles (for me there's no bad or worst song, only weird), is If You've Got Trouble, i think it's good but it's the less one, the animosity and lack of singing, playing and writed lyrics.

It's All Too Much has the spaciest instrumentation. Once it's felt, it can be appreciated. Your missing something major if you haven't turned it up, relaxed and listened to it correctly. Smoke a joint first and then listen to it. Maybe you will get it then. ALL BEATLES SONGS ARE GOOD. ALL.

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